Who is Involved in Confined Space Entry Procedures?

Friday, September 3, 2010 by Stephanie Cox
The three types of people involved in confined space entry procedures are the following:
  • Entry Supervisor 
  • Attendant
  • Authorized Entrants
Do you know what the responsibilities are for each of these individuals for confined space entry? If not, contact an Environmental, Health and Safety Program manager at August Mack Environmental at 800.579.0770.

Safety and Environmental Base Module

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

The Safety and Environmental Base Module is the foundation of eCAP®. This module is designed to provide ongoing solutions to environmental compliance requirements. It provides routine interaction with the environmental compliance consultant experts and plant personnel to ensure consistent environmental regulation compliance and program improvement. This can be accomplished at three levels: program development, program implementation and compliance monitoring. In addition, training can be provided to employees to establish an understanding of the facility’s environmental, health and safety mission. At least one of these options are required and selections of additional options is dependent upon the facility’s compliance needs.

Free Learning Resource

Monday, August 30, 2010 by eCAP Account Team
August Mack Environmental provides numerous webinars on a variety of topics, including environmental compliance programs, environmental compliance auditing, health & safety compliance, sustainable business strategies and environmental management systems. To attend one of our free webinars, visit:http://www.augustmack.com/webinars/.

How is eCAP Designed?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

Knowing the difficulties associated with compliance, August Mack has developed an environmental, health and safety compliance assurance program (eCAP®) that can revolutionize the way facilities manage environmental regulation compliance. eCAP® focuses on the facility’s regulatory compliance, while reducing facility expenses on an annual basis and allowing internal personnel to focus on production. August Mack’s proven program manages corporate risk by outsourcing a plant’s regulatory compliance for a fixed monthly fee.

 

Our experience shows that clients spend a significant amount of time and money participating in training seminars, policy and regulatory committee meetings to educate themselves and track the ever-changing regulatory requirements. After all the research and education, many manufacturers are still uncertain regarding the applicability of regulations for their specific operations. In the end, compliance can only be confirmed via regulatory agency inspections, which often result in “Notices of Violation”, penalties and fines. eCAP® is designed to eliminate all of these uncertainties and allows you to focus on your bottom line.

 

eCAP® provides a team of experts in all areas of EPA environmental compliance to implement, review and maintain an environmental management system that ensures compliance with current and future regulations. This allows the facility personnel to focus efforts on production requirements and August Mack experts to focus on the facility’s EH&S compliance issues.

 

eCAP® is modularly designed to help facilities achieve and maintain compliance with the following: 

  • Clean Air Act (CAA)
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Resource Conversation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Confined Space: Pre-Entry Procedures

Friday, August 20, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

When preparing for an employee to enter a confined space, the entry supervisor and crew should pre-plan the entire job focusing on identifying potential hazards and the elimination/control of the hazards. The program coordinator also should be able to provide assistance during the pre-planning process. The pre-planning process must consider at the least the following items:

  • Energy hazards and needed Isolation procedures (LO/TO)
  • Potential air contaminants, ventilation and air tests needed
  • Cleaning requirements and procedures
  • Potential ignition sources
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Communication methods
  • Fall protection and/or lifeline use
  • Emergency rescue

If your company needs help with its pre-planning process for confined spaces, contact one of the environmental, health and safety plan consultants at August Mack Environmental at 800.579.0770.

Upcoming Webinar on What Pulls You Into Process Safety Management?

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Brooke Lock
Join us if you are in an industry that uses highly hazardous chemicals in its process, and would like to know if you fall under OSHA Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard (29 CFR 1910.119).

To register for this November 18th Environmental Health and Safety Program webinar presented by one of the environmental compliance specialists at August Mack Environmental, visit augustmackevents.webex.com.

Electrical Safety & Arc Flash Hazards

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Health and Safety Account Team
Are your electrical safety programs in place? Do you have a fully implemented lockout/tagout program? Have you completed an arc flash assessment? Protect your workers and subsequently don't open your company up to monetary fines associated with not adhering to the requirements.  See news release below:

 

Call a health & safety compliance expert at August Mack Environmental if you have questions! 800.579.0770.

Do Yourself a Favor

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by eCAP Account Team
Do yourself a favor and institute good housekeeping practices related to your environmental programs. Spills should be addressed and cleaned up immediately. Drums of chemicals should be neatly organized and not randomly stored out in active aisle ways. Containers should be securely closed when not in use. All of these practices will help minimize accidental environmental problems and also demonstrates to a regulatory inspector that the facility is putting its "best foot forward" in regards to operating practices.

August Mack specializes in environmental, health and safety compliance; environmental due diligence; environmental site remediation; and sustainable business strategies to the industrial, legal, financial, health care and government sectors throughout North America. August Mack has offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information on August Mack's environmental, health and safety services, visit www.augustmack.com or call 800.579.0770.

August Mack Announces Promotion of Employee to Ohio Office Manager

Monday, July 19, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

August Mack Environmental, Inc., a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm, is pleased to the promotion of Bennett Thayer to Office Manager for the Dublin, Ohio office. Since joining August Mack in 2004, Thayer has served as a field scientist, staff scientist and project manager.

With more than eight years of experience, Thayer specializes in local, state and federal environmental compliance; environmental, health and safety (EH&S) servicing and reporting; environmental management program development and implementation; biological assessment and environmental investigations; groundwater monitoring; subsurface investigations; underground storage tank (UST) closure; environmental site assessments; wetland determinations and delineations; remedial system operations and maintenance; work plan design and implementation; asbestos surveys; Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) preparation and implementation; and Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan preparation and implementation. In his new role as an office manager, Thayer will be responsible for managing the office’s daily operations, providing technical oversight for projects and managing the office’s growing staff. According to Bryan Petriko, vice president and principal environmental engineer for August Mack, “During the past six years at August Mack, Ben has shown exemplary strength in leadership, technical knowledge, resource management and client management. These qualities made him an excellent choice for the Office Manager position of our Ohio office. I am confident that our Ohio office will continue to flourish under his leadership.”

 

Thayer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science from Otterbein College.

 

August Mack Environmental, Inc. is a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance; environmental due diligence and risk management; site investigation/remediation/closure; and sustainability services to the industrial, legal, financial, health care and government sectors throughout North America. August Mack has offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information on the company’s products and services, call 317.916.8000 or visit www.augustmack.com.

OSHA Violations & Multiple Facilities

Monday, July 19, 2010 by August Mack Environmental

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations and fines can be time consuming to correct, expensive and bring a negative light to a company’s overall reputation. Repeat violations, or willful or knowing violations, will compound these issues exponentially. OSHA views repeat violations as a company’s indifference to safety in general and can put you in a high risk category. In fact, OSHA has a clear set of programs and procedures designed to concentrate resources on companies with repeat violations.  

To learn more about OSHA violations, click here to read an article written by an Health & Safety Compliance expert at August Mack Environmental.

Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance Recorded Webinars Available

Monday, July 5, 2010 by August Mack Environmental
Same Level Falls - Slips and Trips
Injuries due to falls are one of the fastest growing safety issues in our workplaces today. Falls can occur anywhere from industrial facilities to office settings and even home-based businesses. Falls are often categorized into two groups; elevated falls and same level falls. Even though elevated falls generally result in more serious injuries, they tend to make up less than 40 percent of work-related fall injuries. The reduction of same level falls or slips and trips can be accomplished through comprehensive auditing, identification of potential fall hazards and the implementation of short and long term countermeasures.

During this webinar, we will discuss fall injuries statistics, who is at risk for fall injuries, identification of fall hazards in the workplace and ways to reduce fall injuries through program implementation.

Confined Space Entry - Don't Find Yourself Stuck
Did you know, on average, 92 workers die each year in confined spaces? One third of all confined space fatalities are individuals acting as supervisors and 60 percent are would-be rescuers. Did you ever wonder if you have confined spaces in your workplace? During this webinar, we discuss the requirements of a Confined Space Program, the dangers of entering a confined space, entry procedures and rescue/emergency services.

Material Safety Data Sheets & GHS - What do I need to do?
In the late 1980s, the Federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, better known as the "Hazard Communications" or "Right-to-Know" standard, was proposed and adopted into law. This regulation stood for more than 20 years with only small tweaks here and there. Due to the global economy where it is common place to conduct business in multiple countries, OSHA has proposed the first significant change to the Hazard Communication regulation. The tidal wave of change is about to come crashing down. This webinar will review the changes relative to the Material Safety Data Sheets or Safety Data Sheets (SDS). What changes need to be considered? How will the Global Harmonization Standard (GHS) regulation affect the management of my SDS?
 
Click here to register for one of these recorded webinars.

The Five Step Process of eCAP: Compliance Review and Planning

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

As discussed in an earlier post, eCAP® has a five-step process that one of our environmental compliance specialists utilize to implement eCAP® at any facility. The second step in this process is compliance review and planning.

During the environmental, health and safety compliance review and planning process, the eCAP® account team will meet with your management team to review your current compliance status and make plans for the year ahead. We evaluate a wide range of variables, including potential new regulations, the possibility of facility process changes, increased production, capital improvements, reduced waste generation, increased energy efficiency and improved raw materials usage. Additionally, we develop customized audit protocols for routine inspections.

To learn more on how eCAP can help your facility maintain EPA environmental compliance and reduce the cost of environmental compliance programs, click here to read an article written by one of August Mack's technical experts.

Free Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) Compliance Webinars

Monday, June 21, 2010 by eCAP Account Team
August Mack Environmental provides numerous webinars on a variety of topics, including environmental compliance programs, environmental compliance auditing, health & safety compliance, sustainable business strategies and environmental management systems. To attend one of our free webinars, visit:http://www.augustmack.com/webinars/.

The Five Step Process of eCAP: Audit

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 by Stephanie Cox

As discussed in an earlier post, eCAP® has a five-step process that one of our environmental compliance specialists utilize to implement eCAP® at any facility. The first step in this process is environmental compliance auditing. 

The environmental, health and safety compliance audit is designed to establish which regulatory programs apply to your facility and where you stand. This audit includes a complete review of your records and a comprehensive on-site inspection of all your facilities, using the same inspection strategy utilized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

To learn more, click here to read an article on common audit findings written by one of August Mack's technical experts.

Compliance Assurance Program (EH&S)

Monday, June 14, 2010 by eCAP Account Team
Why implement eCAP® (Compliance Assurance Program) at your facility?  Here's why:
  • No Notice of Violations (NOVs) or Notice of Deficiencies (NODs) from any of the EPA environmental compliance inspections or other regulatory agencies
     
  • Reduces personnel, turnover, travel and training costs
     
  • Ensured compliance eliminates regulatory fines and penalties
     
  • Reduces future environmental, health and safety compliance issues by addressing issues in a timely and efficient manner